Resources & Training
GW has a variety of resources available to help you gain a better understanding of web accessibility and learn how to effectively manage your content to meet web accessibility standards.
Digital Accessibility Overview
This training video highlights some of the best ways to ensure digital content is accessible.
Online Resources
- SiteImprove Website Crawler
GW has an enterprise license with SiteImprove, a website quality assurance tool that allows any GW website owner or content manager to monitor the quality of the content on their websites, from misspellings to broken links and outdated references, to digital accessibility.
We strongly recommend that all GW website owners have a SiteImprove account. If you do not already have one, submit a SiteImprove account request.
- SiteImprove Chrome Plugin
SiteImprove offers a Chrome Plugin for ad hoc testing of website accessibility. The SiteImprove Accessibility Checker plugin evaluates any web page for accessibility issues at any given time. It provides intuitive, visual feedback about your content by highlighting detected issues right on the page and gives you:
- an immediate overview of your page's accessibility issues
- clear explanations of how they affect your users
- plus specific recommendations on how to fix them
All analysis is done entirely within the Chrome browser, allowing secure evaluation of password-protected or non-public pages, multi-step forms, and dynamic content. SiteImprove’s Chrome plugin can be used on an ad hoc basis, including on pages behind login. You don't need a SiteImprove account to use the plugin.
- WebAIM
The WebAIM: Web Accessibility in Mind website provides easy-to-follow overviews and tips on web accessibility.
We also recommend using the WebAIM Color Contrast Checker to ensure the colors used on your website and other digital materials meet the appropriate color contrast guidelines.
- Screen Readers
Screen readers are assistive technology tools commonly used by blind or low vision individuals.
GW web developers and others creating digital content are encouraged to become familiar with these tools and incorporate screen reader testing into their ongoing development processes.
Common screen readers include:
- Windows Narrator – built-in Windows screen reader
- Voiceover – built-in screen reader for MacOS and iOS
- JAWS – Windows-based software
- Chromevox – extension for Google Chrome
Training
- GW Libraries
In this video the CREATE digital studio team will show you how you can make your very own auto-generated captions using Adobe Premiere Pro 2022.
Creating Auto-Generated Captions In Adobe Premiere Pro 2022 (CREATE Digital Studio)
- LinkedIn Learning Trainings
LinkedIn Learning provides a wide array of topics and best practices including more than 200 accessibility-related tutorials across six courses. Current GW faculty, staff and students can access LinkedIn Learning trainings at no cost by logging on with your GW UserID and password. We recommend reviewing these courses and exploring others based on your personal interests:
- SiteImprove Academy Trainings
GW's SiteImprove license includes access to SiteImprove Academy, which offers self-paced tutorials that give overviews of accessibility and examples of creating accessible content. Topics covered range from creating accessible web content to creating accessible PDF and Microsoft Office documents.
To access the tutorials, log into the SiteImprove Academy using your existing SiteImprove account.
- Upcoming Training Events
In addition to the SiteImprove and LinkedIn Learning on-demand trainings, trainings on accessibility topics are regularly held at GW. Visit the Marketing & Creative Services website to see the list of upcoming trainings on accessibility and other web topics.
On-Campus Resources
- Disability Support Services (DSS)
Disability Support Services (DSS) provides services for students in the classroom as well as assistance to faculty and staff to accommodate various needs. Visit the DSS website to learn about multimedia captioning, and more.
- Libraries and Academic Innovation (LAI)
The Libraries and Academic Innovation (LAI) division offers a range of support for students and faculty creating or utilizing accessible digital content. Assistive technology tools such as screen readers are available for the GW community at Gelman Library.
- Marketing and Creative Services (MCS)
The Marketing and Creative Services (MCS) team can provide consultation on website, visual design, video, and social media best practices pertaining to accessibility. Bring your questions to MCS virtual office hours, offered daily.
Still have questions? Contact us!
If you have additional questions, feel free to contact us for more information and support.